2009-2010 Master of Arts in Teaching Courses

MAT

600

Culture, Family and Community

(3)

As ethnic minority students from many different cultures enter the public school system in ever increasing numbers teachers are experiencing difficulty in developing practical skills and knowledge that will aid them in teaching these new students effectively. This in-depth intense field experience is designed to take students out of their cultural comfort zones and into the homes and culture of different socioeconomic and ethnic racial groups.

MAT

601

Technology and Teaching

(2)

This course introduces pre-service teachers to constructivist methods of teaching with technology and to a variety of technologies available for classroom integration. Students learn skills in developing instructional and learning strategies for classroom applications of the Internet, multimedia presentation software, web-based learning tools, digital and video cameras, and educational software and tools. Through readings and hands-on application of technology, students develop and teach lessons based on specific theories and learning outcomes.

MAT

602

Introduction to Education

(3)

An exploration of how schools have evolved, the political, economic, and social forces that shape those schools today, and the major issues facing public educators. The course helps students understand the differing belief systems that shape public education and gives students background for articulating their own beliefs about teaching and learning.

MAT

604

Learning Theory

(2)

This course is designed to introduce students to basic theories (with an emphasis on social transformational theories) that provide frameworks for educational scholarship and practice. Students will examine, integrate, and apply various dynamics and principles of learning theories to practical classroom environments. Emphasis is placed upon the joining of learning theory and instructional practice, as a means to personal transformation of teacher professionals. Students should find this information directly applicable to classrooms today. The readings will guide students toward understanding a critical perspective on the sociology of schooling.

MAT

605

Diversity and Learning

(3)

This class introduces multifaceted issues associated with educating children in American society. Students will learn about inclusive education—a movement that involves parents, educators, and community members who are seeking to promote a caring and accepting community environment within schools and other social settings. Students will develop heightened awareness of societal expectations for educators to educate all learners, supplying an appropriate and validating environment to facilitate the highest quality education.

MAT

606

Travel Seminar

(2)

This course will provide students an opportunity to learn more about their discipline(s) by visiting cultural minority communities. Following preparation sessions on campus, the class will travel to a site or sites and visit with host groups working in the students’ disciplines. Students will conduct interviews, visit relevant sites, and attend cultural events. A major purpose of the seminar is for students to gather, organize, and share materials and resources which can be used in their teaching.

MAT

607

Teaching and Research Seminar

(1)

This seminar provides a forum for teacher candidates to address concerns, share information and network with supportive peers and faculty members. It is also the forum for the final development of each student’s Portfolio. Students will also attend a Career Center Workshop.

MAT

610

Managing the Inclusive Classroom

(3)

Students will examine, integrate, and apply various dynamics and principles of classroom management to practical classroom environments. This course will prepare prospective secondary teachers to create a personal classroom management plan for their classes. Discipline, interpersonal relationships, classroom climate, home and parent involvement, and inspiring students to become motivated learners will be addressed.

MAT

611

Secondary Methods & Management

(3)

This course covers the principles and practices of secondary school teaching. Included are instructional methodologies, management techniques, strategies, approaches, and philosophies that are workable in today’s middle and high schools. Must take before MAT 613.

MAT

612

Secondary Methods Seminar

(1)

The seminar provides a forum for discussion on the linkages and curriculum threads between the Fall courses and provides opportunities for team presentations on their burgeoning teaching skills. Students learn how collect and assess early data for their Action Research project while firming up the topic of that project while continuing the development of a teaching portfolio.

MAT

613

Curriculum Design and Assessment

(4)

This course provides educators with the opportunity to reflect on their classroom assessment beliefs and practices. Formal discussions focus on the selection, design, administration, and interpretation of a variety of assessment methods. It will examine the use of assessment results to make instructional decisions, plan instructional activities, and develop appropriate grading practices. Discussions are designed to stimulate thought and provide specific opportunities through which teachers can develop effective assessment practices. Prerequisites: MAT 611.

MAT

614

Reading, Language & Literacy

(3)

This course provides students with a pedagogical and dynamic background in the field of literacy and applications in content areas. Students will encounter a definition of literacy that includes reading, writing, listening, and speaking. A framework for literacy will provide an overview of literacy and components. Theory, research, and practice as presented in current literature will serve as a foundation/resource for students in the course. Students will read texts for an examination of the relationship between research and practice. Effective research-based strategies are examined and applied. Students will also read supplementary material for content area information in specific areas.

MAT

615

Secondary Student Teaching

(6)

Provides mentored classroom experience under the supervision of a certified secondary teacher. Placement requires observation, participation in, and direct responsibility for classroom work and conferences with the mentor teacher and college supervisor.

MAT

616

Methods of Teaching Secondary School
History/Social Science

(3)

This course covers principles, methods, and materials, from both a theoretical and a practical perspective, for teaching secondary history and social science.

MAT

617

Methods of Teaching Secondary School Science

(3)

This course will prepare secondary teachers in the use and understanding of the scientific method and inquiry based learning. In addition students will learn curriculum planning, development, and assessment.

MAT

619

Methods of Teaching Secondary School English

(3)

Preparation for secondary and elementary teaching majors and minors to each English in a culturally rich school setting. Includes methods of teaching language, grammar, composition and literature.

MAT

621

Methods of Teaching Secondary School Art

(3)

This course is an overview of the methods of secondary art education. It explores the content areas of art education (studio art, art criticism, art history and aesthetics) as well as teaching approaches. This course is a hands-on methods course in which students are required to design and implement secondary level art lessons and experiences.

MAT

622

Methods of Teaching Secondary School Mathematics

(3)

An overview of methods employed in teaching mathematics at the secondary level. Students develop understandings of what it means to be a Math teacher as they work with school mentors.

MAT

624

Methods of Teaching Secondary School
Foreign Languages

(3)

This course is designed to give students new ideas and approaches for teaching the four language skills and to establish and maintain effective classroom communities of foreign language learners. The course will emphasize learner differences, cognitive development, and learning styles along with the different modes of language assessment.

MAT

625

Methods of Teaching Secondary School Theatre

(3)

This class explores the culture of what it means to be a teacher of theatre in a secondary school. The focus is primarily on the practical aspects of teaching theatre including exploring interconnections between the discipline and classroom management, assessment techniques, lesson planning, and the use of rubrics to assess teacher effectiveness and student learning.

MAT

626

Special Topics

(3)

A changing topics course.

MAT

630

ECE/ELED Methods & Management

(2)

Students will design integrated, thematic curriculum that is developmentally appropriate for all early childhood (K–3) and elementary school students. Family-to-school bridge building is addressed with emphasis on building multilingual and cross-cultural connections. Emphasis will be given to understanding the roles early childhood educators play in recognizing, addressing, and potentially referring students with special needs.

MAT

631

Math for ECE/ELED Teachers

(2)

This course is a concept-oriented exploration of selected mathematical topics from the main mathematical strands of early childhood and elementary education. The emphasis is on developing underlying conceptual and relational understandings of these topics and becoming familiar with models for teaching these concepts in the early childhood and elementary classrooms. Students will examine how concepts connect and grow across the K–8 grade levels.

MAT

632

Science Methods

(3)

Stimulates thinking about various methodologies used in elementary science education by exploring and questioning our preconceived ideas through hands-on, inquiry-oriented experiences, discussions, readings, and field work in the classroom. This course will prepare you to use and understand the scientific method, curriculum planning, curriculum development, and alternative methods of assessment.

MAT

633

Mathematics Methods

(3)

Examines current directions in how students learn mathematics in order to promote thinking about best practices for teaching K–8 children mathematics. The emphasis is on understanding a variety of instructional practices, assessment strategies, and curriculum development to plan for effective teaching and learning.

MAT

634

Language Arts Methods

(3)

Provides contact with lessons, materials, methods, research, and theory for the elementary teacher in language arts skills and strategies for application in the K–8 classroom. We examine various instructional strategies and adaptations in language arts for all learners through critical text reading, shared experiences, field placement, demonstrations, hands-on activities, and active student inquiry and participation.

MAT

635

Reading Methods

(3)

Provides an in-depth study of literacy theory, processes, instruction, and assessment. Sociocognitive theory will provide the framework for assessment and instruction practices. Students will have many experiences implementing instructional and assessment procedures with young children. Methods designed to meet the needs of a broad range of diverse learners (including special needs and ELL students) are addressed throughout the course.

MAT

636

Social Studies Methods

(3)

This course covers principles, methods, and materials, from both a theoretical and a practical perspective, for teaching social studies in the elementary school. It explores the six disciplines of social studies (history, geography, economics, government, sociology, and anthropology), and the interdisciplinary nature of a social studies education.

MAT

637

Creative Arts Methods

(3)

This course will introduce prospective early childhood and elementary teachers to the value of incorporating the arts into the classroom. Methods, resources and materials in four areas of the arts (visual art, music, creative movement/dance, and drama) will be explored. This class is designed to involve prospective teachers in developing ways of teaching the creative arts in the elementary classroom setting.

MAT

638

ECE Student Teaching

(6)

Provides mentored classroom experience under the supervision of a certified early childhood teacher. Placement requires observation, participation in, and direct responsibility for classroom work and conferences with the mentor teacher and college supervisor.

MAT

639

Elementary Student Teaching

(6)

Provides mentored classroom experience under the supervision of a certified elementary teacher. Placement requires observation, participation in, and direct responsibility for classroom work and conferences with the mentor teacher and college supervisor.

MAT

640

ECE/Elementary Methods Seminar

(1)

The seminar provides a forum for discussion on the linkages and curriculum threads between the Fall courses and provides opportunities for team presentations on their burgeoning teaching skills. Students learn how collect and assess early data for their Action Research project while firming up the topic of that project while continuing the development of a teaching portfolio.

MAT

670

Roles of the Special Educator

(4)

This course is designed to provide an examination of the professional roles and responsibilities of special educators in K–12 schools. The professional and ethical standards that stem from legal and legislative decisions at the local, state, and national level affect the psychological, sociological, multi-cultural, philosophical, and educational aspects of special education.

MAT

671

Methods of Instruction and Curriculum for
K-6 Special Education I

(4)

This course explores the current research on best practices regarding curriculum and instruction for students with mild to moderate disabilities in K–6 settings. Students learn to apply interventions that assist students with learning difficulties in reading, math, and written and oral expression. Students also learn to use instructional and assistive technologies to enhance the learning of students with disabilities. Students are required to spend twenty clock hours in a field placement. Prerequisite: MAT 670; co-requisite: MAT 673.

MAT

672

Methods of Instruction and Curriculum for
7-12 Special Education II

(4)

This course explores the current research regarding methods to serve students with disabilities in the general education classroom. Students learn to apply learning strategies to reading, writing, mathematics, and study skills. Students also develop transition programs and learn to use instructional and assistive technologies to enhance the learning of students with disabilities. Students are required to spend twenty clock hours in a field placement. Prerequisites: MAT 670 MAT 671 MAT 673; co-requisite: MAT 674.

MAT

673

Special Education Assessment

(4)

This course emphasizes statistical procedures and processes for collecting and analyzing norm referenced assessment, observational information, curriculum based assessment, criterion referenced assessment and environmental assessment in special education evaluation and in development of special education programming for students with mild to severe learning and behavioral disabilities.

MAT

674

Special Education Behavioral Supports

(4)

This course is designed to explore theories and their application to create effective environments for students with behavioral challenges. Specifically, the course will focus on the integration of methods and techniques for addressing the behavioral, affective, and social development of students in special education.

MAT

675

Special Education Methods Seminar

(4)

The seminar provides a forum for discussion on the linkages and curriculum threads between the Fall courses as well developing an Action Research project and continuing the development of a teaching portfolio using artifacts created this semester.

MAT

676

Special Education Student Teaching

(4)

This course provides full time classroom teaching experience in a special education setting under the supervision of a certified teacher. Students complete their practice teaching while assessing their progress through self reflection and action research.